Boston’s biggest game yet — Norway vs. France — kicks off at 3 p.m. Follow live updates.

The final group-stage World Cup game to be played in Massachusetts is Friday, and it’s a big one: Norway vs. France. Both countries are already advancing, but there is still plenty on the line.

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With kickoff set for 3 p.m., it will feel like true summer weather. Here’s a look at the forecast.

The Globe has journalists covering the region throughout the afternoon. Follow live updates below.

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By Dave Epstein, Globe Correspondent

After some morning showers, we’ve seen a blend of clouds and sunshine to overcast skies this afternoon with a bit of humidity that will hang on, but it’s unlikely fans will have to contend with any rain or stormy weather during the match. Any thunderstorms should hold off until this evening, after 6 p.m., once the game has wrapped up.

Most of the energy for these incoming storms will remain to the north of us and a severe thunderstorm watch has been posted for New Hampshire, central Vermont, and southern Maine. Later this evening, as upper-level dynamics move south, there could be a brief shower or a thunderstorm from north to south. It’s unlikely that any of these will reach even strong levels, but there could be a downpour.

Temperatures will fall through the 70s the first half of the night.

By Aayushi Datta, Globe Correspondent

Fans began streaming into the Fan Fest at City Hall Plaza about 30 minutes before kickoff, grabbing burgers, listening to music and trying out soccer-themed games as anticipation built for the Norway-France match.

For Medfield resident Ed Boulat, the Fan Fest became his family’s World Cup experience after they were unable to secure tickets for the match in Foxborough. Boula attended with his two sons, ages 8 and 4, and his parents.

“We didn’t manage to get tickets, so this is our official World Cup event so far,” Boulat said. “We’re excited. It should be a fun match.”

Born in France, Boulat said supporting Les Bleus made the match especially meaningful. But as a Manchester City supporter, he admitted he was disappointed that Norway star Erling Haaland was rested for the team’s final group-stage match.

“It’s a bit upsetting that we’re not going to see Haaland play, but that’s OK,” he said.

By Chris Serres, Globe Staff

They came for the escargot, slow-cooked in garlic and parsley butter, and the bourbon splashed with lemon juice.

They arrived in crisp polo shirts, with designer bags, and puppies lounging in bassinettes.

Over sips of strawberry spritzers, they talked of past and future trips to the Louvre and the Côte d’Azur.

As for the World Cup match flickering on the large screen perched above the sidewalk tables of the Petit Robert Bistro? That was a mere afterthought to their main event: the haute cuisine and the artful recreation of a Parisian evening in Boston’s South End.

There is a discreet confidence that defines the French fans pouring into Boston this week ahead of the team’s high-stakes clash with Norway in Foxborough.

For them, soccer is less a riotous celebration than a quiet, almost inevitable march toward victory. They arrived here fully expecting to win. Anything less than a trophy would be a disappointment. No need for the exuberant passion of the Brazilians, the rowdiness of the English or the contagious bravado of the Scots, who descended on Boston with bagpipes and kilts, drank bars dry, and left patriotic statues topped with cones.

Fans of Les Bleus, as they are known, are still turning out in droves in local French bistros and cafes to see these games.But they are making their presence known in more discreet ways.

“We are passionate about football, but we are not in your face, you know, jumping and dancing around,” said Loic Le Garrec, co-owner of the Petit Robert Bistro. “We already know we are champions.”

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By Amin Touri, Globe Staff

Why is Norway resting all its players when the group is at stake? Well, because winning Group I really doesn’t provide much benefit.

France and Norway are tied atop the group with 6 points heading into Friday’s game, with France holding the goal difference tiebreaker in the event of a draw.

The winner will take on one of the third-place finishers in the round of 32 — Sweden occupies that position for now — with a path that runs through Germany in the round of 16 and likely either the Netherlands or Morocco in the quarterfinal. The loser will face Ivory Coast in the round of 32, then likely Brazil in the round of 16 and likely England in the quarters.

There’s very little advantage to be gained by winning today, so Norway seems happy to take the benefit of a rested squad instead.

By Amin Touri, Globe Staff

The lineups for this highly anticipated France-Norway matchup are out, and there’s going to be a lot of disappointment in the Norway end of Gillette Stadium.

The Norwegians are resting pretty much all of their stars, including striker Erling Haaland, for this final game in Group I. There will be no showdown between Haaland and Kylian Mbappé — unless Haaland makes a second-half cameo — as has been touted since the matchup was made months ago.

The French are playing their strongest team, save for star center back William Saliba, who is being rested as he nurses a back issue.

By Omar Mohammed and Edward Fitzpatrick, Globe Staff

Over the last two weeks, Cape Verdeans have taken to the internet to celebrate their new reality — “we don’t have to explain where Cape Verde is anymore.”

The refrain has whizzed through social media in the days after the country stunned the footballing universe when they held current European champions and 2010 World Cup winners Spainto a draw in their first ever game at the World Cup.

The small island off the coast of West Africa — for those who may still be unaware — followed up that performance with another thrilling display against South American powerhouse Uruguay and secured another draw, giving themselves a terrific opportunity to advance to the next stage of the tournament when they match up against Saudi Arabia on Friday.

Regardless of the outcome, Cape Verde communities from Rhode Island to Brockton to Boston are celebrating the historic recognition of their country and its ambitions — their team had made its mark.

“For us, the joy and pride is that folks now know who we are, the rest of the world knows who we are, as an ethnicity, as a country,” said Darlene Spencer, the board president of the Cape Verdean Association in New Bedford.

Even in New England, where tens of thousands of Cape Verdeans live, the community has sometimes been misidentified. Spencer said that Cape Verdean are often asked if they are Dominican, Puerto Rican or Indian and constantly have to remind people that they are African.

But after this World Cup, no more.

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By Frank Dell’Apa, Globe Correspondent

France midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni knows Erling Haaland as “a world-class player — he’s astute in the [penalty area] and, in any moment, if you’re not concentrating, you can pay for it. But we’re ready for that.”

Tchouaméni, though, did not seem prepared for Haaland’s claim that France is “probably going to win against us. They’re probably going to win the whole tournament.”

“Interesting,” Tchouaméni said via an interpreter Thursday before practice at Bentley University. “No, honestly, I don’t know if he was kidding, or not. We stay focused on ourselves, game to game, we have to stay focused on ourselves.”

Haaland made his prediction when asked about Friday’s France-Norway match in Foxborough.

“Honestly I don’t care too much, we’re through,” Haaland said after Norway’s 3-2 victory over Senegal. “We managed to get through, which is incredible, so I couldn’t care too much about that game now.”

France assistant coach Guy Stéphan said Haaland’s contention lacked credibility.

“I don’t believe that much,” Stéphan said. “They say a team is better, in case they lose the match. Then, people don’t feel so sorry.”

Haaland the jokester, then. Or is he playing mind games?

“I think he said it a little bit as a joke, because it was just after a big, big, win,” Norway defender David Møller Wolfe said. “So, we were focused on the win, and not on the the next game. I think everyone wants to win and win the group.”

If Haaland is putting his kroners on Les Bleus, he is not alone. France is a strong favorite against the Norwegians, and also to capture its third World Cup title.

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By Emma Healy, Globe Staff

Lise Klaveness can’t seem to walk two paces through a crowd of Norwegian soccer fans without getting stopped for a selfie or an autograph.

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Once a star on the Norwegian women’s national team, Klaveness is now perhaps best known as the president of the Norwegian Football Federation, a role for which she is recognized over and over on a recent afternoon in Boston.

In celebration of the Norwegian men’s team qualifying for its first World Cup since 1998, an estimated 10,000 Norwegians traveled to Boston for the team’s games in Foxborough: a 4-1 win over Iraq on June 16, and Friday’s game against France at 3 p.m.

And it seems everyone she walks past wants to shake her hand.

Klaveness took over the top job at the federation in 2022, and returned the men’s national team to prominence by focusing on the country’s grassroots programs to create sustainable success at the elite level.

Her philosophy is rooted in a belief that soccer should be for everyone: A stronger grassroots youth program leads to a better national team, she said, and a more accessible and inclusive sport at all levels creates unity through shared experiences.

“Even though I’ve worked hard for equality my whole career, I would say it’s always come organically, and it’s always come from a place where I think it’s also what’s best for everyone,” Klaveness said. “The fight is not to just have representation, it’s to make it better for everyone.”

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By Aayushi Datta, Globe Correspondent

As the rush at South Station began to thin, a few last-minute fans hurried to catch the train to Foxborough, hoping to make kickoff for the World Cup match between France and Norway.

Among them was Lindsay Sandmeyer, 36, of the South Shore, who said supporting France comes from years of personal connections to the country. The trip also carried extra significance because it was her husband’s birthday.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in France,” Sandmeyer said. “I studied abroad there, and we’re going back this summer. If France makes the final, we’ll be in Paris.”

Attending her first World Cup match, Sandmeyer said she was eager to watch French star Kylian Mbappé and hoped the game lived up to its billing.

“I hope it’s a close game,” she said. “Even though I want France to win, I want it to come down to the very end because that’s exciting.”

By Nicole Yang, Globe Staff

Why will NFL owners install natural grass playing surfaces for soccer players, but not for their own teams?

Only 15 of 30 stadiums feature natural grass during football season. Of the 11 World Cup hosts, seven, including Gillette Stadium, usually feature synthetic turf — and had to make significant arrangements in order to meet FIFA’s tournament-quality standards. The six others were Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), AT&T Stadium (Dallas), NRG Stadium (Houston), SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles), MetLife Stadium (New Jersey), and Lumen Field (Seattle).

Ahead of the first World Cup match on June 11, the NFL Players Association issued a statement criticizing owners for selective accommodations.

“The temporary installation of natural grass fields for the World Cup is a choice by certain NFL team owners to do for soccer players what they refuse to do for NFL players,” wrote the NFLPA. “It’s no longer a question of capability; the technology exists, the expertise exists, and the resources exist to install the high-level grass fields that our players overwhelmingly prefer.

“We have seen the meaningful investments made to meet the standard for international athletes and global events. NFL players — who regularly compete on these fields, help fund these stadiums, and whose work makes the league what it is today — deserve the same commitment to quality grass fields.”

According to a recent survey conducted by the NFLPA, 92 percent of its players prefer playing on natural grass as opposed to synthetic turf. The latest edition of the NFLPA player report cards revealed that home grass fields received a median grade of B+, while turf fields received a median of D.

The most popular explanations are that turf is harsher on the body, particularly the joints, and that grass is easier to move on.

“I’ve always been a big proponent of playing on grass,” said Patriots safety Kevin Byard, who is entering his 11th season. “It’s just a longer recovery process [after playing on turf]. My joints, mainly my ankles not my knees, take a little longer to recover. On a Tuesday or a Wednesday when you’re practicing, you still feel the soreness.”

Added Patriots special teams captain Brenden Schooler, “I love playing on grass. It doesn’t hurt as bad when you fall. When it’s freezing out, I don’t think it cuts you up as bad as turf does. You don’t have to worry about turf burn. I just think, you know, from doing my own research and looking at data and stuff, on turf you have the unfortunate thing where you get caught up and guys get rolled up on and your knee or your ankle gets stuck. Grass has got a little bit more give.”

The turf vs. grass debate is not new. But the World Cup, and the beautiful grass fields installed for all 78 of the matches in the United States, has revived the discussion.

“This grass and turf stuff has nothing to do with [Roger] Goodell,” former Patriots captain Devin McCourty explained recently on Pro Football Talk’s podcast. “The owners don’t want to pay for the upkeep of the grass field. They want to be able to, in the offseason, have all of these different events at their stadium because of the turf surface, whether it’s concerts. It’s very cost effective to have the artificial turf. You can place so many different things over it. You can do a rodeo over it, you can do a monster truck show over it, you can do all these things.”

McCourty said he and former Patriots coach Bill Belichick would talk “all time time” about how everyone, coaches included, would prefer to hold games on grass.

“Every team practices usually on grass fields,” McCourty said. “They have these grass fields they have to take care of because they know you don’t want to practice on that turf day in and day out because of the impact it has on your body.

“I remember in 2012 or 2013, Brazil and Portugal played a friendly at Gillette Stadium. It’s the most disrespectful thing as a player when you see them pouring all this dirt and putting this grass surface on top of your field because the field’s not adequate enough for these soccer players to get on the field. But you know you’re about to go back and play on this field time and time again, and watch guys get hurt on it.”

So, what’s it going to take for all 30 NFL stadiums to install natural, high-quality grass?

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By Aayushi Datta, Globe Correspondent

Wearing red, white and blue, France and Norway supporters packed South Station on Friday morning, filling platforms with jerseys, scarves, flags and Viking helmets as they boarded trains to Foxborough.

For Somerville resident Ben Steinlauf, 29, the trip was about more than just supporting Norway — it was about sharing the experience with his Norwegian friend, Jacob Englestad, while finally seeing star striker Erling Haaland in person.

“He’s a freak of nature, who should be seen in person to really understand what he can do,” Steinlauf said as he held a Viking helmet in his hand.

Although France fans appeared to outnumber Norway supporters, he said Norwegian fans still made their presence felt.

“This is my second game, actually, and the energy is incredible,” Steinlauf, who previously attended the Scotland and Haiti game in person, said. “To go to World Cup games in my home is just an absolute dream come true.”

By Ben Volin, Globe Staff

I promise, I don’t want to be the brash American who rips on soccer because there isn’t enough scoring compared with other sports.

The World Cup matches held in Foxborough entering Friday have been terrific. We have been treated to some of the game’s biggest stars, four entertaining matches, and an electricity from the international fans that has made for a unique sporting experience in Boston history. I’m all in on this World Cup.

But with France and Norway coming Friday, a simple ask — could we please get a few more goals?

Scoring has been a bit spotty through the first four Foxborough matches, with just seven goals. Five came in Norway’s 4-1 win over Iraq in Match 2. The others have been a couple of 1-0 results — Scotland over Haiti and Morocco over Scotland — and a 0-0 draw between England and Ghana.

Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland did his part, notching two goals in the first half against Iraq. But England sniper Harry Kane attempted just three shots as he was smothered by Ghana’s defense, and misfired on his one golden chance, sending a rebound over the crossbar in the 86th minute, which his manager said Kane converts “99 out of 100 [times].”

The two most recent matches in Foxborough have been essentially goal-less. Since Morocco’s Ismael Saibari scored in the second minute of Game 3, local fans haven’t witnessed another goal in 205 minutes, including stoppage time.

Seven goals in four games isn’t a drought, but it is the same number Germany scored in one match against Curacao. In the World Cup’s first 60 matches, 14 ended with one or fewer goals. Foxborough has hosted three.

“Oh, that’s just soccer, and of course you don’t understand it, you ignorant American,” I hear you say.

While often true, that’s not the case here.

Through Thursday night, Boston’s 1.75 goals per match tied for 14th out of the 16 tournament sites. Only Toronto (1.75) and Guadalajara (1.67) have had equal or fewer.

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